The Biker Brothers and the Golden Sunset

Chapter 9: Mr. Lucero's Class

Before the meteor could hit, Tonton woke up from his sleep. His alarm clock was whining loudly. He was panting and sweating. He could not even control his trembling hands. He stayed on his bed until he recovered his nerves. Once he had relaxed, Tonton immediately prepared for school.

School was not suspended for the day. It was reported the day before that the team of scientists were almost done investigating the school and that nothing peculiar had been observed or found yet. Only few classrooms had to be checked yet and so classes could resume with some sections to be combined into one.

The school was noisy when the four friends arrived. Almost every student was present, and only a few parents continued to accompany their children. The school seemed to be back to its usual atmosphere - alive, kicking with excitement, and busy like during the first hour in the morning and the final hour in the afternoon.

In fact, Subangdaku was back to its usual self. Businesses which had closed the previous day were now open. People had gone back to their day jobs. Some media men had left, leaving the streets and vacant lots empty of tents. It was sunshiny in the district, as if the villagers had not been terrorized by the mysterious falling star.

In the school, the three sections of the fifth grade level were combined into a single class. They occupied the larger function hall in the campus. Theirs and the six graders' classrooms were still under inspection by the team of scientists. The boys were excited about it, and they sat together in the first row of the class.

"We are finally classmates!" Bogart beamed with happiness as they waited for their first class.

"It sure looks unreal to be with you guys in the same classroom," Kiko said.

"We should be classmates next year," Jamie concluded. "It is more fun this way. Besides, we will not be any more waiting for each other after class."

While the three boys chuckled, Tonton remained quiet.

"Tonton," Jamie finally confronted him, "you have been unusually silent since this morning. Is there any problem?"

The other two boys looked at Tonton. They had also observed his strange behavior but were hesitant to ask him about it.

"Yes," Kiko seconded, "you can tell us about what is bothering you."

Tonton stared at his friends' faces and he knew they were sincerely worried about him. He had been meaning to tell them about his dreams, but he was afraid that they might not believe him, or worse, laugh at him. Yet, he also believed that they were real friends, and they would not take his dreams lightly.

"I think I must be totally honest with you," he began. "I have not been feeling right since the explosion two nights ago -"

"Are you sick?" Bogart interrupted.

"No, it is not that," Tonton clarified. "It is more like -"

Tonton was not able to finish his sentence again as their classmates began racing to take their seats. Since the class had not yet started, the students were just all over the room. So, when the teacher's footsteps were heard coming, they scampered, took their seats, and acted like behaved children.

"Good morning, class!" Alexander Lucero greeted his students as soon as he entered the room. "As you all know, all grade five students will be combined in one class today. Just today only so the team can finish their investigations."

Mr. Lucero, or Sir Alex as fondly called by everyone in the school, was a science teacher for grade four and five students. He was still young, somewhere in his late twenties, a bachelor, and undeniably handsome. Both parents and his co-teachers adored him while some girl students, particularly from grade five and six, had a crush on him.